Town approves of 1.92 percent tax hike

Nov. 17 was an eventful day of approvals for multiple bills on the table for the Brookhaven Town Board, including a 1.92 percent tax hike next year on homeowners, or $10.52 per year.  The main agenda of the Brookhaven Town Board from the beginning was clear: pass or deny as many proposals as possible. With the overhaul of proposals from the previous month, each board member went meticulously through every single one.

Some of the approved proposals on the table included lowering the commencement age for benefits in LOSAP (Length of Service Award Program), allowing the continued annual Santa’s Mailbox this holiday season, and funding renovations to the Firefighter’s Museum in Ridge.

The board also addressed issues with the Suffolk County website computer hacking that happened earlier this fall.  This issue has held up many public affairs for the district, including the removal of zombie housing. Though the issue has not yet been resolved, the town board promised to continue working on the issue, hoping to resolve the issue by December. 

The board also held a public hearing for Francisca’s European Hair Salon in Medford, which for 10 years was operating as an illegal business out of the owners’ house.  The business has also been accused of dumping toxic chemicals from said salon, which may have contaminated the groundwater in the area. Owners of Francisca’s European Hair Salon proposed to become an official business about six months ago after their business was shut down for violating district law.  The grant was again denied by the town board.

A Uniform Traffic Code hearing was set by the town board for Dec. 15 at 2:30 p.m.